The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 students in the science stream appeared for the chemistry exam on February 27. Students who took the exam were satisfied with the level of the question paper, with teachers and students describing the difficulty level as moderate. The chemistry exam was held for 70 marks from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.
The CBSE chemistry Class 12 paper followed the CBSE pattern of the sample paper, with questions primarily sourced from NCERT textbooks.
Student-friendly and NCERT-based paper
Mayank Agnihotri, PGT Chemistry at VidyaGyan School, Sitapur, UP, stated that the paper was student-friendly and NCERT-based. The overall difficulty level ranged from easy to moderate, with most questions being direct and familiar to students. The exam structure was well-balanced.
He further noted that all three sets of the chemistry question paper were nearly identical in difficulty and content, ensuring uniformity across students. Every question was derived from NCERT Intext exercises or end-of-chapter questions. The paper leaned slightly towards theoretical concepts, with Inorganic Chemistry questions directly sourced from textbook exercises. Organic Chemistry was perceived as easy, with predictable and familiar reaction-based questions. Overall, the chemistry paper was well-structured, student-friendly, and a confidence booster for those appearing in the board exams.
Scoring paper
Chandan, a student from VidyaGyan School who appeared for the exam, found the paper straightforward and scoring. Each set contained 4-5 numerical problems, all of which were direct formula-based and required minimal calculations.
Another student, Adarsh, from the same school, said that assertion and reasoning questions were simple, which allowed him to answer with confidence. A three-mark question on name reactions also tested organic chemistry fundamentals.
Easy sets
Somya Hooda, PGT Chemistry at Silverline Prestige School, Ghaziabad, observed that the paper included a good mix of competency-based and moderate questions, assessing the application of knowledge. The paper was average, with questions mainly based on CBSE sample papers.
Hooda added that direct questions were straightforward and easy to answer, and the MCQs and competency-based questions were also of average difficulty, ensuring a balanced assessment. Students finished the paper well in time and were satisfied with the level of the paper. Overall, all the sets were easy.
Appropriate balance of difficulty and accessibility
Sonam Chauhan, Chemistry educator (PGT) at JAIN International Residential School, Bengaluru, stated that the question paper was thoughtfully designed to assess a comprehensive understanding of the subject, maintaining an appropriate balance of difficulty and accessibility.
Chauhan explained that the objective section was relatively straightforward, testing basic concepts and formulas. However, some of the short-answer questions required a deeper understanding of reactions, concepts, and calculations. The Short Answer section was moderately challenging, with some questions requiring not just memorization but also a clear understanding of chemical processes and mechanisms. The long-answer questions were also well-designed, requiring students to not only recall facts but also apply knowledge critically.
She further added that overall, the paper was fair and well-distributed across various topics. It provided a good challenge for students who had thoroughly studied the syllabus and had strong problem-solving skills. While some questions required deep conceptual understanding, the paper avoided overly tricky or out-of-syllabus questions, ensuring that it tested knowledge and application in a fair manner.
Moderate covering basic understanding
Dr. Afjal H Mazumder, PGT Chemistry from Modern English School, Kahilipara, Guwahati, described the chemistry paper as moderate, covering a basic understanding of chemistry. He noted that students who had thoroughly studied the NCERT textbook and understood the concepts at a fundamental level would perform better than those who avoided NCERT textbooks during preparation.
Mazumder added that extensive practice of sample question papers helped in catering to CBQ and CR questions. However, Set-1 had 5 marks (two MCQs and one three-marker) from the same topic, which might have been avoided.
Tested on concepts rather than just memorisation
Ameeta Mohan, Amity International School, Pushp Vihar, New Delhi, while analyzing the chemistry paper, noted that the assertion-reasoning questions were relatively easy and uniform across all sets.
She explained that Sections B and C, comprising short-answer type questions, drew directly from NCERT texts, testing students’ theoretical knowledge. The case-based questions in Section D were deemed simple and easily comprehensible. Some Section E questions were thought-provoking and application-based.
She added that overall, there were no discrepancies in the question paper, and all concepts had been adequately covered. The focus was to develop critical thinking and encourage logical applications.
Anshu Taneja, educator for senior years at Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad, stated that the CBSE Class 12 chemistry paper featured conceptual questions, numerical problems, and application-based scenarios. It was well-structured and aligned with the CBSE syllabus, emphasizing conceptual understanding over rote memorization.
Taneja added that the exam required deep comprehension, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills to achieve high marks. While some students found the numerical problems in Physical Chemistry challenging, others perceived the Organic Chemistry section as intricate, with questions that were not straightforward. Students who had thoroughly studied the textbook, consistently practiced questions, and developed a strong conceptual foundation could confidently approach the paper and navigate its challenges effectively.
Electrochemistry questions challenging
Sarita Khokhar, HOD Chemistry at Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Ghaziabad, stated that the paper contained questions of varying difficulty levels, ranging from easy to moderate.